Efficient Vikings rally past Wildcats

CARIBOU – Talk about making the most of your opportunities.

The Caribou boys soccer team managed only five shots on goal in the second half of Wednesday night’s matchup against rival Presque Isle. By most standards, that’s not enough to win a game.

But it was actually more than enough for the Vikings, who scored on their first three chances in the second half for a 3-1 comeback victory over the Wildcats in front of about 450 spectators at the high school field.

Seniors Keegan Wakana and Kyle Corrigan each had a goal and an assist for 2-0 Caribou, which has won three of the teams’ last five meetings, including the second matchup last year.

So the Vikings knew the Wildcats would open with a lot of intensity, especially because it was Presque Isle’s season opener.

“They always come out hard and play good soccer,” Wakana said. “We play different styles, but they definitely come out hard.”

Wakana scored 5 minutes, 28 seconds into the second half when he kicked in a loose ball that the Presque Isle defense was unable to clear.

Senior Jarryd Rossignol provided the game-winning goal with 27:22 left after he booted a pass sent in from Corrigan on the right side.

Then, on Caribou’s third chance, Corrigan dribbled the ball around until he got into space and kicked in the ball.

“I just found myself open and I ripped it. I’m not afraid to shoot,” Corrigan said.

Caribou managed just eight shots overall. The Vikings were pleased to hear how few shots they needed to seal the win.

“Three out of five, that’s a pretty good percentage,” Wakana said.

The win was also a tribute to Caribou’s defense, which was stellar in the face of nine Presque Isle corner kicks in the second half alone. The Wildcats, who used a corner to score in the first half, had designated kicker Ethan Hill try ball after ball after halftime, but the Vikings seemed to be able to clear shots quickly.

“That’s definitely the anchor of our team, the defense,” Caribou coach Mark Shea said. “We’re working on trying to create more scoring opportunities but we know our defense is tough to beat. We’re not going to give up many goals.”

Sweeper Jon Noyes, stopper Justin McLauchlan and marking backs Carlin Dubay and Seth Sager were keys, along with goalie Eric Brown, who made nine saves on 20 shots.

Brown made several big saves in the second half, including a dive to stop an angled shot by Presque Isle’s Warren Zubrick, who was streaking down the right side of the penalty area, and another on a hard-hit shot by Chad Carlin.

Presque Isle’s Russ Mortland scored for the Wildcats when he kicked in a pass from Steve Carmichael, who had settled a Hill corner kick at the right post.

Shea was also pleased with the defensive effort on Mortland, a midfielder who is dangerous with his head and feet.

“Justin was marking him although it was a team effort,” Shea said. “It took the whole team to defend him. Presque Isle in general has a great offense, which is how they ended up getting so many corner kicks. They just come at you.”

Presque Isle goalie Dillon Kingsbury made four saves.

The game was physical but cleanly played, which was a tribute to both teams in the fierce rivalry. There were 21 fouls in the first half and 12 in the second.

“We talked in the locker room about how this game has a playoff atmosphere even though it’s only August and there’s a lot of emotion in this,” Shea said. “I thought both teams did a good job of playing with composure.”